FOLLOWING an intense standoff between Islamabad and Rawalpindi Police over the custody of Shahbaz Gill, the Adiala Jail authorities handed over the custody of the PTI leader to the former on Wednesday night.
The high drama ended after the Federal Government announced sending Rangers to take custody of Gill.
Gill is fully entitled to medical examination and treatment based on his health conditions but the way attempts were made to thwart court orders for his hand over to Islamabad police for further investigation sent disturbing signals to all.
The abortive move to avoid hand over and instead shift him to Rawalpindi District Headquarters Hospital, which is under the Punjab government, was uncalled-for as Islamabad has best of medical facilities as compared to other parts of the country and Gill was ultimately shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
The latest standoff resembled what people of Pakistan witnessed on the fateful day of voting on the resolution of no-confidence against the then Prime Minister Imran Khan when the Government employed every conceivable tactic to avoid voting on the motion.
The situation changed only when the courts conveyed firmness to get their orders implemented and in this case the decision of the federal government to send Rangers and FC to Adiala Jail forced provincial authorities to shun obstructionist behaviour.
There were clear orders from the Sessions Court to hand over Gill to Islamabad Police and in the absence of any stay order by an appellate court, there was absolutely no justification to create an impression of confrontation between the federal and the provincial governments.
The country cannot prosper and move ahead until and unless rule of law prevails in all circumstances.
